You don’t survive and thrive over 100 years as a watchmaker by cutting corners, and Seiko has a special place in the hearts of watch enthusiasts because of their reputation for crafting reliable and precise timepieces. A new Seiko Prospex diver’s watch (model number SPB333) is the first of a series of commemorative watches coming out this new year to celebrate the company’s 110-year history.
Related: Respect for nature is at the foundation of Grand Seiko watch designs
Seiko produced Japan’s first wristwatch in 1913, and the new Prospex is meant to draw from the company’s rich technological and design heritage.
Well-suited for underwater environments
The Seiko Prospex is part of a line of professional-grade diving watches from Seiko. Diver watch enthusiasts are a special breed. Features of the Prospex include water resistance up to 200 meters, or 660 feet, unidirectional bezel that allows the divers to track the amount of time they have been underwater.
Other must-have features for divers include luminous hands and marks for better visibility in low light conditions. How strong is it? Durable and corrosion-resistant stainless steel case and band hit the mark. The watch is 41 mm in diameter.
Diameter: 41.0mm, Thickness: 12.3mm
The watch’s case is based on the Seiko 6105-8000 diver’s watch from 1968. The curved silhouette and crown positioned at the four o’clock positioned inspired many diver’s watch designs that followed.
What’s particular beautiful is the dial, intricately textured, inspired by the polar glaciers and seascapes of the Arctic and Antarctic. Seiko’s reputation for durability and reliability was forged in the 1960s and 1970s when explorers and researchers wore them on expeditions to the North and South poles.
The tried-and-trusted Caliber 6R35, a 21,600 vph automatic movement, delivers a power reserve of 70 hours. The stainless steel case and bracelet have a super-hard coating. As well as the Lumibrite coating on the twelve indexes and hands, an anti-reflective coating on the inner surface of the sapphire crystal ensures high legibility from every angle.
Seiko Prospex: Additional strap made of recycled plastic bottles
The watch has a five-row steel bracelet with a secure clasp and extender. The Seiko Prospex is also offered with an additional strap with polyester material made entirely of recycled plastic bottles.
The alternate strap features a traditional Japanese braiding technique called Seichu. Its strength and resistance to degradation caused by exposure to sunlight meet the demanding standards of Seiko’s diver’s watches. It’s also ideal for use under water. The watch has a unique braiding pattern. The strap has flexibility and air permeability that ensure comfort on the wrist.
Flexible price points
Along with a rich history of watchmaking, Seiko is also known for its affordable price points. That makes these watches a great value for those in the market for a professional-grade diving watch.
The new Seiko Prospex will be available at Seiko boutiques and select retail starting this month. It’s a limited edition – just 5,000 are available, priced at $1,750 CAD. The watch joins the Save the Ocean series, which expresses the Seiko Prospex mission to preserve the world’s oceans for future generations.
I am a 50-something Torontonian who loves everything about my city. It’s been my home, my playground, for my entire life. I went to school here. I met my wife here. I own real estate here. I love writing about the transformation of my city on the world stage, which hasn’t been anything short of dramatic. That continues on, as I write this. I write on the real estate scene. I write on travel and fashion. I like following the world of luxury watches.
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